DISTRIBUTION:

Hirpida pomacochasensis (wingspan: males: 46mm; females: 61mm // forewing length: males: 24mm; females: 32mm) flies in
Peru: Amazonas: El Paraiso, Pomacochas, collected by R. Marx, 2006-10-01, at elevations from 2100-2600m.

This species is the smallest of the known members of the genus, as of 2010. Males have a reddish brown ground colour and a more pointed and slightly produced forewing apex compared to the more rounded apices of choba and mayvanschaycki, which also are much more reddish.

The anugulate am line, the small cell mark, and the dentate subterminal line are all prominent and dark charcoal grey. There are also some less prominent, more diffuse, grey suffusions in the submarginal region below the apex. The pm line is a diffuse band of darker red-brown scales which runs in a very straight line from the costa to the inner margin.

The HT male was originally thought to be small H. guajoni, but DNA barcoding reveals it as distinct species.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Specimens are on the wing in October. There are probably other flight months.

Larvae possibly feed on oak species.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Females extend a scent gland from the tip of the abdomen, and the night-flying males pickup and track the airbourne pheromone plume with their well-developed antennae.

Females are likely most active right after dusk. The male, above, was taken early in the evening.

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

Eggs are deposited in clusters on hostplant foliage.

Hirpida pomacochasensis larvae are highly gregarious and have the urticating spines typical of larvae from the Subfamily Hemileucinae.

The species name is indicative of a specimen type locale in Pomacochas, Amazonas, Peru.

Larval Food Plants

It is hoped that this alphabetical listing followed by the common name of the anticipated ?? foodplant will prove useful. The list is not exhaustive. Experimenting with closely related foodplants is worthwhile.

Quercus.......

Oak

Use your browser "Back" button to return to the previous page.

Return to Hirpida Genus

Return to South American Saturniidae Direcotry

Return to Main WLSS Index